Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Terry Township, Pennsylvania

Terry Township’s own rules

• Local zoningAbsent

  Land inside Terry township's limits: the township has not adopted its own zoning ordinance.

  • Official county page for Terry township states the township has opted out of zoning ordinances; the page is undated.
  • No Terry township zoning ordinance or zoning office was located in research.
  • Subdivision and land development review by the Bradford County planning commission still applies (see subdivision claim).
  • Sewage, building-permit and other state or county rules are not addressed by this zoning claim.

  “terry township has opted out of organizing a planning commission, a comprehensive plan, and zoning ordinances.”

• Zoning districtsNot published

  Zoning districts inside Terry township: none published because the township has no zoning ordinance.

  • The absence is drawn from the township's opt-out from zoning ordinances; the county page is undated.

  “terry township has opted out of organizing a planning commission, a comprehensive plan, and zoning ordinances.”

• Minimum dwelling sizeNone

  New or existing dwellings inside Terry township; no township minimum dwelling size because the township has no zoning ordinance.

  • Absence is drawn from the township's opt-out from zoning ordinances; the county's Terry Township page is undated.
  • Building-code and county subdivision rules are not addressed by this claim.

  “terry township has opted out of organizing a planning commission, a comprehensive plan, and zoning ordinances.”

• Minimum lot sizeNone

  Lots inside Terry township; no township minimum lot size because the township has no zoning ordinance.

  • Lot size in county subdivision review is decided by sewer/water availability and percolation or profile tests, per the county SALDO; this is not a fixed minimum lot size.
  • On-lot septic lots need percolation and soil analysis before the preliminary plan (county SALDO).
  • Absence is drawn from the township's opt-out from zoning ordinances; the county page is undated.

  “terry township has opted out of organizing a planning commission, a comprehensive plan, and zoning ordinances.”

• SetbacksNone

  Buildings and lots inside Terry township; no township setback rule because the township has no zoning ordinance.

  • Absence is drawn from the township's opt-out from zoning ordinances; the county page is undated.
  • Setbacks are not set by the county subdivision ordinance in the sections reviewed.

  “terry township has opted out of organizing a planning commission, a comprehensive plan, and zoning ordinances.”

• Lot coverageNone

  Lots inside Terry township; no township lot coverage limit because the township has no zoning ordinance.

  • Absence is drawn from the township's opt-out from zoning ordinances; the county page is undated.

  “terry township has opted out of organizing a planning commission, a comprehensive plan, and zoning ordinances.”

• Building heightNone

  Buildings inside Terry township; no township height limit because the township has no zoning ordinance.

  • Absence is drawn from the township's opt-out from zoning ordinances; the county page is undated.

  “terry township has opted out of organizing a planning commission, a comprehensive plan, and zoning ordinances.”

• Living in an RVUnrestricted

  RV occupancy on private land inside Terry township: no township land-use rule restricts it because the township has no zoning ordinance.

  • Septic, floodplain and subdivision rules still apply (see those claims).
  • The absence is drawn from the township's opt-out from zoning; the county page is undated.

  “terry township has opted out of organizing a planning commission, a comprehensive plan, and zoning ordinances.”

• Camping on your landUnrestricted

  Temporary camping on private land inside Terry township: no township land-use rule restricts it because the township has no zoning ordinance.

  • Septic, floodplain and subdivision rules still apply; campground developments are regulated as land development under the county SALDO (Article VI).
  • The absence is drawn from the township's opt-out from zoning; the county page is undated.

  “terry township has opted out of organizing a planning commission, a comprehensive plan, and zoning ordinances.”

• Tiny homesUnrestricted

  Tiny home occupancy inside Terry township: no township land-use rule restricts it because the township has no zoning ordinance.

  • Septic, floodplain and subdivision rules still apply.
  • The absence is drawn from the township's opt-out from zoning; the county page is undated.

  “terry township has opted out of organizing a planning commission, a comprehensive plan, and zoning ordinances.”

• Manufactured homesUnrestricted

  Manufactured home occupancy inside Terry township: no township land-use rule restricts it because the township has no zoning ordinance.

  • Septic, floodplain and subdivision rules still apply; the county SALDO's Article VI covers mobile home parks and campground developments as subdivision/land development.
  • The absence is drawn from the township's opt-out from zoning; the county page is undated.

  “terry township has opted out of organizing a planning commission, a comprehensive plan, and zoning ordinances.”

• Accessory dwellingsUnrestricted

  Accessory dwellings inside Terry township: no township land-use rule restricts them because the township has no zoning ordinance.

  • Septic, floodplain and subdivision rules still apply.
  • The absence is drawn from the township's opt-out from zoning; the county page is undated.

  “terry township has opted out of organizing a planning commission, a comprehensive plan, and zoning ordinances.”

Rules another office applies inside Terry Township

Terry Township does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivisions and land developments inside Terry township, reviewed under the Bradford County SALDO because the township has no subdivision ordinance of its own.

  • Plans must be approved by the Bradford County planning commission before recording (SALDO section 104).
  • No permit to erect or alter a building in a subdivision or land development may be issued until the plat is approved and recorded (SALDO section 105).
  • On-lot septic lots need percolation tests and soil analysis before the preliminary plan.
  • Terry township's opt-out from zoning and planning means the county office, not the township, administers this review.

  “in boroughs and townships which have not adopted subdivision and land development ordinances, the subdivision and land development plans must be approved by the county planning commission as complying with all requirements of these regulations, before recording.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Terry Township or Bradford County directly.

• Building permit — Building permit requirement for construction inside Terry township
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for Terry township permits
• Building code adopted — Building code adoption inside Terry township
• Inspections — Building inspections inside Terry township
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy inside Terry township

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.